Carnival, which is known as "Fastelovend" in the local Kölsch dialect, plays a very important role in Cologne. In line with this year's motto "social jeck – kunterbunt vernetzt", the costumed "fools" will celebrate Carnival 2015 in Cologne, which will start as tradition prescribes at 11:11 a.m. on 11th November.

Carnival, which is known as "Fastelovend" in the local Kölsch dialect, plays a very important role in Cologne. In line with this year's motto "social jeck – kunterbunt vernetzt", the costumed "fools" will celebrate Carnival 2015 in Cologne, which will start as tradition prescribes at 11:11 a.m. on 11th November.

Here are a few explanations for...

Carnival, which is known as "Fastelovend" in the local Kölsch dialect, plays a very important role in Cologne. In line with this year's motto "social jeck – kunterbunt vernetzt", the costumed "fools" will celebrate Carnival 2015 in Cologne, which will start as tradition prescribes at 11:11 a.m. on 11th November.

Here are a few explanations for the "crazy" number 11: According to tradition, the number 11 symbolizes foolishness, because one fool next to another fool adds up to a foolish unity. The German word for 11, "elf", recalls the motto "Egalité, Liberté, Fraternité" (equality, liberty, fraternity). And finally, 11 also stands for the Eleventh Commandment, which turns all the rules upside down.